People write about a lot of things nowadays. They write about something unique with many plot twists to make their writings more interesting. As a result, many people want to be a writer, perhaps, including you.
But before you send your manuscript to the book publishing companies or submitting them on online platforms, reexamine your writing. You have to be aware of the message that you want to convey to your readers. Your words are powerful. Many writers influence their readers through the words, and you might do the same.
Literature can shape people’s minds according to the writer’s perspectives. It inflicts imagination and plants new knowledgeinyour reader’s mind. When you write about a foreign culture, improper researchmay lead to cultural misrepresentation. For this reason, the unwanted reaction will surge.
The Consequences of Cultural Misrepresentation
Cultural misrepresentation comes in many forms, such as the words you use to label an individual, outdated stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and generalization. From the perspectives of minorities, the misrepresentation might lead to racism and violence in their daily lives. The worse consequences might come from the generalization, whereas it excludes the other varieties of culture. For example, there are many diverse ways to describe a Muslim, Indian, and even American. Thus, it threatens the minority’s identity.
Writers who portray different cultures often face a backlash, such as Kathryn Stockett, who wrote The Help in 2009. The inaccuracy of her portrayal inflicts a surge of protest fromThe American Association of Black Women Historians. Ever since the incident, the world becomes more critical of literature that promotes diversity.
As a writer, undoubtedly, you don’t want to offend anyone with your writings. To avoid cultural misrepresentation, you have to conduct thorough research. It is not easy as it sounds, but here are the tips that will help you.
Researching Foreign Culture
A person cannot represent the whole nation. For instance, if you have a Spanish friend, it doesn’t mean you understand the whole Spanish culture based on your friend. You have to bear in mind that your friend is not always a reliable source for your research. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t ask your friend for further references. When the language barrier happens, reach out to your friend or use online translation platforms.
Primary Sources
If you can experience the foreign culture directly, do not let the chance slip away. Collecting data from the primary source will give you more details. You can start by observing the way people interact with each other and their small habits. You can enhance the accuracy of your writing by adding trivial detail of people’s habits. Blog posts and diaries are also the primary sources for your research. You can learn about their concern on some issues or their daily routines.
Secondary sources
The secondary sources for your research are journals and documentaries. Take notes from the emerging problems or frequent struggles that they encounter. You can learn the history of a nation and its impact on their culture. However,you have to be careful when you are choosing secondary sources. Ensure that you use reliable sources when you do your research, such as official websites or accredited journals. Combine the result with your findings from the primary source. You can create a character with believable and deep-researched background stories.
What to avoid
You have to avoid biasing. You shouldn’t rule out the information that doesn’t fit your expectation. Research bias will bring inaccuracy to your writing and misleading the readers. To illustrate, if your research finds out that in some tribes, only the oldest and holy men wear tribal feathers of Native Americans, do not tweak this information and make your female character wear it.
The improper portrayal will cause a backlash, especially when it involves someone’s culture. Analyze the information carefully, respect other people’s customs and be sensitive to the values in someone else’s culture. Avoid tripping over sacred practices or anything else that you don’t fully understand. If you are unsure of your research, consult with professionals in the related field. They will help you to understand and provide you guidance to avoid cultural misrepresentation.
Before you write from the other culture’s point of view, find a strong reason on why you have to write from that perspective. Make sure that you can deliver the right value through the correct representation. It will be challenging and bring you an eye-opening experience. Ask professionals to check your manuscript to ensure the accuracy of your writings.
Nevertheless, treat your fictional character as an individual instead of the representation of a culture.
